Self-contained temperature-change container assemblies

Abstract

A container houses an inner container with food or another product to be heated or cooled. An insert at least partially surrounds the inner container with a first temperature-change reagent inside the insert. A penetrable barrier is disposed between the first reagent and a second reagent. An actuator breaches the barrier to allow the first and second reagents to heat or cool the material inside the inner container. An outer shroud at least partially surrounds the insert. At least one spacer is present between the outer shroud and the insert, with thermally insulating air gaps present adjacent the spacer. The spacer also has an internal vent channel running through it for venting pressure from the internal volume in which the reagents mix to the atmosphere outside the assembly.

1 . A self-contained temperature-change container assembly, the assembly comprising: 
 an inner container configured to hold a product whose temperature will be changed by a temperature-changing chemical reaction taking place in the container assembly;    an insert that includes structure that at least partially surrounds the inner container and which at least partially defines a first internal volume that holds a first temperature change reagent;    a penetrable barrier between the first internal volume and a second internal volume that holds a second temperature change reagent;    an actuator operable to breach the penetrable barrier,.wherein breaching the penetrable barrier allows the first and second temperature change reagents to mix in a temperature change reaction that transfers heat between the reagent mix and the contents of the inner container;    an outer shroud that at least partially surrounds the insert;    at least one spacer between the outer shroud and the insert, wherein an air gap is defined between the outer shroud and the insert at a location adjacent said spacer, and wherein a vent channel is defined inside at least one of the spacers;    structure placing the first internal volume and the vent channel in pressure communication; and    structure placing the vent channel and the surrounding atmosphere in pressure communication; wherein the first internal volume and the atmosphere are placed in pressure communication via the vent channel.    
   
   
       2 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shroud includes structure that at least partially defines the second internal volume that holds the second temperature change reagent.  
   
   
       3 . The container assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the shroud floor includes structure defining a through hole, and wherein the actuator comprises: 
 a barrier breaching member located inside the shroud on an interior side of the shroud floor;    a button member located outside the shroud floor on an exterior side of the shroud floor opposite the interior side; and    a force transmission member that passes through the through hole between the button member and the barrier breaching member;    wherein pressing on the button member urges the barrier breaching member through the penetrable barrier to allow the reagents to mix and the reaction to proceed.    
   
   
       4 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , and further comprising structure on the actuator that mates with structure on the outer shroud to hold the second temperature change reagent inside the second internal volume.  
   
   
       5 . The container assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the mating structures include a ridge on one of the barrier breaching member and the shroud, wherein said ridge engages with a groove on the other of the barrier breaching member and the shroud to enhance a sealing engagement between the barrier breaching structure and the shroud.  
   
   
       6 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a flexible pushbutton member that snaps into a groove on the shroud.  
   
   
       7 . The container assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the pushbutton member includes structure defining a receiver that receives and holds a force transmitting member that urges a barrier breaching member through the barrier when a force is applied to the pushbutton.  
   
   
       8 . The container assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the pushbutton member applies a tensile force to the force transmitting member when force is not applied to the pushbutton by a user of the assembly, wherein the tensile force urges the barrier breaching member into sealing engagement with the shroud, and wherein said sealing engagement contributes to the maintenance of the second reagent inside the shroud.  
   
   
       9 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , and further comprising a filter material inside at least one of the vent channels.  
   
   
       10 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the inner container includes a rim that engages with a rim channel on the shroud to secure the inner container to the shroud.  
   
   
       11 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , and further comprising a steam condenser inside the assembly between the insert and the inner container.  
   
   
       12 . The container assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the steam condenser includes steel wool.  
   
   
       13 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein a sufficient quantity of the first temperature change reagent is present inside the first internal volume to insure contact between the first temperature change reagent and substantially the entire portion of the inner container that is surrounded by the insert.  
   
   
       14 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature change reagent is a solid material whose presence helps to maintain the position of the inner container inside the insert.  
   
   
       15 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the structure placing the vent channel and the surrounding atmosphere in pressure communication includes structure that defines at least one external vent that allows pressure communication through the outer shroud.  
   
   
       16 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the shroud and the insert are spin-welded together at least two distinct lines of contact.  
   
   
       17 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , and further comprising a guard structure fixed directly to at least one of the insert and the shroud, wherein the guard structure is configured to protect the actuator from inadvertent actuation.  
   
   
       18 . The container assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the guard structure is carried by a false bottom that is fixed directly to the insert.  
   
   
       19 . The container assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the false bottom is spin-welded to the shroud.  
   
   
       20 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shroud includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs, and further comprising a heat insulative layer applied over the ribs with air between the ribs between the heat insulative layer and the exterior of the shroud.  
   
   
       21 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is a generally cylindrical member, and wherein the vent channels run along substantially the entire length of the insert's cylindrical wall between opposite ends of the insert.  
   
   
       22 . The container assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the insert and the outer shroud are both generally cylindrical members, and wherein the insert includes a flange at one end that engages with a rim at one end of the shroud.  
   
   
       23 . The container assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the insert's flange carries a channel that engages with a rim on the inner container to secure the inner container to the insert.